H. Rept. 114-690 - TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ESTABLISH A STRUCTURE FOR VISITOR SERVICES ON THE ARLINGTON RIDGE TRACT, IN THE AREA OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES114th Congress (2015-2016)
Committee Report
Report Type: | House Report |
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Accompanies: | H.R.4789 |
Committees: |
H. Rept. 114-690 - 114th Congress (2015-2016)
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House Report 114-690 - TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ESTABLISH A STRUCTURE FOR VISITOR SERVICES ON THE ARLINGTON RIDGE TRACT, IN THE AREA OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES [House Report 114-690] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 114th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session } { 114-690 ====================================================================== TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ESTABLISH A STRUCTURE FOR VISITOR SERVICES ON THE ARLINGTON RIDGE TRACT, IN THE AREA OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES _______ July 14, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 4789] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4789) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of H.R. 4789 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial located in Arlington, Virginia, honors ``United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775.'' Based on the iconic image by Joe Rosenthal, the Memorial depicts five U.S Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. The Memorial attracts over one million visitors annually and hosts several popular events including Summer Sunset Parades and the Marine Corps Marathon. Despite this popularity, the Memorial lacks basic visitor services such as permanent restroom facilities. Due to the high visitation numbers at the Memorial, the National Park Service (NPS) identified a clear need to replace the existing temporary portable bathroom facilities in favor of a more respectful and permanent solution. H.R. 4789 authorizes the construction of a visitor services center that includes permanent restroom facilities and a small area for interpretative signage and materials near the Memorial. When Congress authorized the United States Air Force Memorial in 2001, the legislation prohibited the creation of additional structures on the 25.32 acre parcel of land surrounding the Memorial. Congress did not intend for the prohibition to restrict a facility for public restrooms but rather wanted to keep the area surrounding the Memorial open and potentially available for future use by Arlington National Cemetery. Given the prohibition on construction, this legislation is necessary for NPS to move forward with the creation of a new visitor services facility. NPS intends to construct a non-staffed facility, designed to ensure a minimal impact on the open space around the Memorial, funded by a recent $5.37 million donation from billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 4789 was introduced on March 17, 2016, by Congressman Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA). The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On May 24, 2016, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On June 14, 2016, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent on June 15, 2016. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 30, 2016. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4789, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and for other purposes. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Marin Burnett. Sincerely, Keith Hall. Enclosure. H.R. 4789--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and for other purposes H.R. 4789 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to construct a small structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Based on information from NPS about the design and construction of the structure, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost about $1 million over the 2017-2021 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting H.R. 4789 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4789 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. H.R. 4789 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Marin Burnett. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), implementing H.R. 4789 would cost about $1 million over the 2017-2021 period, subject to appropriation. CBO estimates that the bill ``would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10 year periods beginning in 2027''. 3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective of this bill is authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. EARMARK STATEMENT This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4 This bill contains no unfunded mandates. COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5 Directed Rule Making. The Chairman does not believe that this bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific rule-making proceedings. Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was not included in any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law 98-169) as relating to other programs. PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW This bill does not amend existing law. [all]